Last few days before the exam, I woke up at the time I would wake up for the exam and went through the same routine I would on exam day (minus actually driving to the center). I also did drive by the test center to make sure I knew where I was going and where to park, but not as part of the test simulation routine. I did my best to simulate the jitters of test day. You can also practice visualizing success.

The only thing I can think of is letting the nerves aid you; you're supposed to have them, now use the anxious energy to propel you forward?

I think that's right. When I took the first time around, I felt remarkably clear-headed thanks to adrenaline. While I felt a bit more pressure since this was the real deal, I also felt really pumped up, because I was fairly confident in the amount that I'd practiced.

It might also be helpful to take some practice tests in an uncontrolled environment--though diminishing marginal returns apply. Ideally, this environment would be a quiet floor or reading room of a university library, where you can be reasonably sure that you won't have any major distractions, but there will still be people around you shuffling papers, etc, to simulate a realistic test-taking environment.

On the other end of the spectrum would be my library experience. I would take tests at a public library downtown where people would sometimes have extensive conversations, they'd come up to me, they'd creepily hit on any unfortunate young girls--one time a guy even got forcibly escorted out by the cops. I would say that these experiences were not at all helpful because they do nothing to simulate a realistic test-taking environment. I think they demonstrably hurt my PT scores which ultimately shook my confidence.

ETA: Also just realized this was not the June 2016 study group--oh well, hope it answers your question at least.

The only thing I can think of is letting the nerves aid you; you're supposed to have them, now use the anxious energy to propel you forward?

I think that's right. When I took the first time around, I felt remarkably clear-headed thanks to adrenaline. While I felt a bit more pressure since this was the real deal, I also felt really pumped up, because I was fairly confident in the amount that I'd practiced.

It might also be helpful to take some practice tests in an uncontrolled environment--though diminishing marginal returns apply. Ideally, this environment would be a quiet floor or reading room of a university library, where you can be reasonably sure that you won't have any major distractions, but there will still be people around you shuffling papers, etc, to simulate a realistic test-taking environment.

On the other end of the spectrum would be my library experience. I would take tests at a public library downtown where people would sometimes have extensive conversations, they'd come up to me, they'd creepily hit on any unfortunate young girls--one time a guy even got forcibly escorted out by the cops. I would say that these experiences were not at all helpful because they do nothing to simulate a realistic test-taking environment. I think they demonstrably hurt my PT scores which ultimately shook my confidence.

ETA: Also just realized this was not the June 2016 study group--oh well, hope it answers your question at least.

I've been taking them in a public library, and it has been miserable in many ways haha

My worst nightmare happened yesterday. I had a disastrous performance on my first real LSAT.

It pains me to type this, but I promised everyone I would update. Here's what went down:

First section was LG. I was ecstatic. Got through the first two games relatively quickly, saw game three with the antiques and just froze after I wrote down the rules like I had never dealt with conditional rules in a logic game. Got through 4 of those questions doing hypos, did the fourth game, then returned to the third game. I realized I only had a minute left, so I had to guess on the remaining 3. I was horrified. Not a good start.

2nd section was LR, very standard. I was only uncertain about a couple. I think the anxiety from the first section carried over because I barely finished LR in time. I usually have at least a couple minutes to go over the questions I circled.

I was very happy to see my third section was LG again. I dominated that section. It was about the same difficulty level as the first section, so I really hoped this section was real (spoiler alert: it wasn't). My break was awful. I had to wait in line for the women's restroom the entire time while listening to other test takers freak out.

4th section was RC. I maintained my composure. I somehow spent 10 minutes on the super straight forward comparative passage and just never recovered. That section was a blur for me. I did the clay passage last. My proctor didn't call the 5 minute warning, so I had to guess on 6 questions on the clay passage. That was the nail in my coffin.

5th section was LR again. Another very straight forward one, but who knows how much I was shaken by the previous RC section.

I'm devastated. 100% did not hit my goal score. Nearly a year down the drain. I have two takes left, but I'm worried the same thing will happen again. I had no idea the test anxiety would be this real. I didn't feel nervous, only for RC. If anyone had a similar outcome on their first take but recovered, I'd love to hear from you.

I did my first take yesterday as well after a year of studying; while I'm pretty sure I did not hit my goal score, I think the year of studying was not wasted. I have a funny feeling you'll feel a lot more calm during a retake (if you even need to....maybe you're being too hard on yourself and you did fine).

It's not impossible to score a 172 with ~9 guesses, especially if a few were educated guesses. Also, it's not a wasted year. You increased your true ability level above your goal score threshold. Even if this test turns out to be an outlier to the negative side (and it might not be), your true ability level will come through on another attempt.

Also, do you know which LG section was the one that counts? It's possible that one you had to guess on was experimental, which would make reaching your goal score more likely.

Good luck when scores come out, and try not to stress about it in the meantime. You put the work in and you'll see the rewards -- whether it's on this exam or the next.

I was in a similar position last year in October. I was consistently hitting at my goal score on PTs, but I got shaken during the test and fell well short of my average. For my second take I focused heavily on test day conditions (exact timing, 15 min break, experimental section, etc.) in different environments (library, home office, Starbucks). I scored right at my average the second time around, because my test day strategy was second nature at that point. I just finished my third take yesterday after taking 3 months off from studying. All 5 PTs I took in the last month far exceeded my previous average. I'm also confident my score from yesterday will reflect my new scoring range.

I mention all of this only to show the skills you worked hard to master will not disappear. Your last year was not a waste. Give yourself a moment away from the test and when you do come back to it, focus on mastering your routine. Be confident in the fact that you are a 170+ scorer and will prove it the next time around.

OP if you're still out there you might get something from this. I self-studied for the LSAT- nowhere near to the degree that you did, but diligently. My PTs were always in the low to mid 170s.

The night before the LSAT I couldn't fall asleep. I had built up the test and all of its implications on my future so much that I was cracking under the pressure before the exam even began.

The test started out well enough. I had no trouble with the first section, which was Arguments. But then when LG came up on the second section I just started to feel like I was blanking out. I realized that a lot of time had elapsed without me answering a question, and, I kid you not, I spent roughly 30 seconds considering the pros and cons of just walking out of the test right there and cancelling my score. I decided against it, and just treated the rest of the test like a free-roll.

Suffice it to say, my score was not good. However, I was at least able to manage something in the mid 160s, and I was glad to have finished the test knowing that I had established a reasonable floor. I moved forward, retook, and performed much better on the second go-around.

Regardless of what your score is you put forth tremendous effort, and it will surely pay off in the future. Test anxiety is real, but now that you've confronted it you will be better equipped to handle it next time.

Wow. Reading this whole thing at once and realizing there is no closure or happy ending is painful. At this point I will do anything to get in contact and find out how the journey ended. So, so disappointing.. If you're out there, please return!

Seriously. I just read all of that (thanks to poster above making it relevant again on the home page). I need an ending HotlineBling. Did it end up being just unfounded anxiety and you actually got a 174 and you're at Harvard or something? Did you bomb and get a 165? What's the deal man?

And you literally said in your posts you would not leave us hanging...